CROOKED TEETH: WHY THEY’RE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH

It’s great to have a smile with beautifully aligned teeth, but actually, that alignment has far more value than just giving someone a pretty smile. Well-aligned teeth are subject to much less stress and are much easier to keep clean and healthy. Not correcting crooked teeth can be like starting a row of dominoes falling, with the end result being loss of teeth and a negative impact on your overall health.

When you chew with properly aligned teeth, your teeth meet as they were designed to. Stresses are properly and evenly distributed. You’re also able to clean your teeth thoroughly with brushing and flossing.

Misaligned teeth that can’t be kept clean more easily develop decay. The bacteria which causes decay will also irritate gums, leading to gingivitis and the more serious gum condition, periodontitis. As these conditions start, the dominoes begin to topple over, one after another.

1. Gum Disease: The longer gums stay irritated and inflamed, the more they will recede and the deeper infection will spread into the gums and the structures supporting the teeth. Teeth will become sensitive as their roots are exposed by this recession. Gum disease can even result in the spread of bacteria to other parts of your body, contributing to serious health conditions.
2. Structural Damage: When your teeth don’t meet correctly, they can become worn down, chipped or cracked because of the misplaced stress. This stress can also cause chips at the gum line. There can also be damage to the bone support of the tooth, eventually causing that tooth to be lost.
3. Jaw and Head Pain: Overbite and underbite both create unusual stresses on the teeth. They can also stress the muscles of the jaw and the joint located in front of the ear. Stress in these areas can lead to muscle spasms, ear pain and headaches.

Teeth that fit together correctly last longer and are very likely to require less dental treatment to keep them healthy. In our office, we love to provide our patients with Invisalign® clear aligners to improve their smiles.

Treatment starts with careful imaging and planning. A patient’s oral measurements and images are sent off to the lab so the clear acrylic aligners can be made just for them. The patient then receives a series of aligners to be worn for about two weeks each. Gently, gradually, his teeth are eased into their correct positions as he progresses through the aligners.

Invisalign treatment should be completed before placing veneers or dental implants to ensure their long-term success. When teeth are aligned first, there will be no abnormal stresses to damage either restoration.

Please contact us to learn more about straightening your teeth with Invisalign.